Experiencing Life in Process

Many people spend time “working” out their problems with the help of a professional for a season. This season of time is often referred to as the “processing issues time”. The manner in which people process their issues can vary through the use of psychotherapy or counseling with someone on a specific issue such as depression. Most people can benefit from a period of actively processing their issues. It helps to have someone trained to listen and give feedback as difficult or traumatic circumstances are dealt with in this manner.

The interesting thing I find as a therapist is that most people find it would benefit them to have someone in their life they could depend on to be there to bounce things off of throughout their lives. This doesn’t mean they want to go into “deep” process about everything because that is usually for issues of a more serious nature.

However, the process of living does require process. By that I mean, if a person just moves through life randomly without experiencing it or taking it in to their inner being, they are missing out on so much. Living completely, fully, wholly, joyfully, serenely and with interaction with all dimensions of self and others makes the journey of life richer. In order to live in the dimensions of emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and physical, you will have to begin to live in process.

Reconnecting with what has been forgotten or moved away from requires intention to do so. The desire to live fully alive has to be conceived first as a need. Many people reach the ages of 35-50 and start to ask if they are missing out on something. If they ask that question, they are searching for more. More is not going to be found outside your self. More is found from working inside out. Getting in touch with your inner being is the beginning of living in process.

Connecting with life through the scientific or through facts and information is not being fully alive. Living in that manner is moving through life with an exterior connection to things and people at a surface level. The experience of relationships alone must be lived in process with them in the physical, emotional and spiritual realms. The deeper experiences of life and things that grow and mature us need time and process. Living in the wholeness of ourselves is about taking responsibility and ownership for our lives.

It is possible to begin to take an accounting of your life right now and ask if you feel you are living in process. For example, ask:

Do you feel you have grown and matured since you left your family of origin? Have you become your own person?
Have you experienced life differently from the way in which your parents did?
Are you living in the present connected to those important people in your life with healthy relationships?
Do you feel alive and excited about what is happening in your life or are you focused on the past or looking for a better future?
Do you see life as a journey that is giving you more maturity, wisdom and a deeper sense of the spiritual?

Take time to ask yourself other questions that are about living from the inside out and taking time to reflect and process on your reality. Write about your growth stages.

Blessings,
Susan